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How to Harvest Sunflower Seeds for Replanting and Gift-Giving

How to Harvest Sunflower Seeds | Roots & Boots

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Did you grow sunflowers this year?  Now is the time to harvest sunflower seeds for next year!  Collecting seeds from your own sunflowers is super easy. Homegrown sunflower seeds make great gifts, and saving your own seeds will free up  a bit of room in your gardening budget for next year.

How to Harvest Sunflower Seeds | Roots & Boots
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By the way, a sunflower house is the perfect garden project for kids.  You should definitely plan one for next year!

Here’s how to harvest sunflower seeds for replanting and gift-giving…

1. Keep an eye on the sunflower heads as the petals begin to dry and fall off.  The head will turn from green to yellow to brown.  Now’s your chance!

How to Harvest Sunflower Seeds | Roots & Boots
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2. After the back of the head has turned brown, cut off the entire head of the sunflower with a knife with about an inch of stem.

How to Harvest Sunflower Seeds | Roots & Boots
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3. Store the sunflower heads in a dry place with plenty of ventilation.  You may want to keep a tray, bucket or large sheet of newspaper under the sunflower heads to catch any seeds that fall.

4. Allow the seeds to dry completely–this may take a month or so.

How to Harvest Sunflower Seeds | Roots & Boots
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5. When the seeds are completely dried, spread large sheets of newspaper on a work surface.  Rub your hands over the seeds to loosen, while gently shaking the sunflower head to release the seeds onto the newspaper.

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6. Store sunflower seeds in a paper envelope.  Don’t seal them in plastic or glass–this will produce mold.  Yuck!  Keep your seed envelopes in a cool, dry spot, and be sure to label the envelope.

More seed-saving ideas:

How to give homegrown sunflower seeds as gifts

There are countless adorable ways to package seeds, but here’s how I did it…

How to Harvest Sunflower Seeds | Roots & Boots
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You will need:

How to Harvest Sunflower Seeds | Roots & Boots
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Instructions:

1. Fill the envelope or bag with seeds.

2. Optional: seal with a sunflower sticker.

How to Harvest Sunflower Seeds | Roots & Boots
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3. Make a tag.

4. Wrap with twine and tie a bow, using the twine to secure the tag.

Sunflower Seeds for Gift Giving | Roots & Boots
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5. Add to a gift basket!

And that’s it!  Have you ever saved your own sunflower seeds or given them as gifts?

 

 

 

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Kathleen | Roots & Boots

Let's get real! I’m Kathleen Henderson, your Natural Living Mentor. I’m on a mission to help families see the joy in real food, while finding natural remedies and creating a nontoxic home. Learn more about my story >>

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